'Next big leap': Netflix to offer 41 new shows to lure Indian viewers

Network18 Media & Investments

03/03/2021 13:08

MUMBAI, March 3 (Reuters) - Netflix  NFLX.O  said on
Wednesday it would release 41 shows and films in India this
year, calling the move its "next big leap" in the world's second
most populous nation where video streaming services have become
more popular.
    India, with its 1.3 billion people, is a vast and valuable
market for the U.S. streaming service and its rivals Amazon's
 AMZN.O  Prime Video and Walt Disney Co's  DIS.N  Disney+
Hotstar.
    The platforms, which are all offering an increasingly broad
range of local language content, have been luring users with
cheaper billing plans and offers.
    Netflix's new roster of 41 titles includes films with top
Bollywood actors, stand-up comedy shows and original series, the
company said in a blog post. Most will be in the Hindi language.
    "We are taking our next big leap in India," Netflix said on
its post, saying the upcoming lineup "features more variety and
diversity than we have seen before". 
    India, whose Bollywood film industry makes more productions
each year than Hollywood, remains a challenging market for the
streaming services.
    Amazon's Prime Video has become embroiled in legal cases and
police complaints over a political drama "Tandav" deemed
offensive to Hindu religious sentiments. The U.S. service has
apologised to viewers over some scenes.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL4N2KT249
 urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL4N2JS062s
    Netflix has also faced court cases and complaints over some
its content, with some viewers saying it promoted obscenity or
hurt religious sentiments.
    Netflix said some of its 41 shows to be released this year
would be produced by India's Reliance Entertainment, Viacom18
and Bollywood director Karan Johar's Dharmatic Entertainment. 
    In 2019, Netflix said it planned to invest almost $400
million to develop content for India. Reuters reported last year
that Netflix was in talks with Viacom18 to create shows to help
expand its offerings in India.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL4N2DP1P0
    

 (Reporting by Shilpa Jamkhandikar; Editing by Aditya Kalra and
Edmund Blair)
 ((shilpa.jamkhandikar@thomsonreuters.com;))